Reading

At Alpington & Bergh Apton Primary we consider the teaching of reading to be of prime importance to the success of our pupils. Our aim is for the children to become confident and enquiring readers for life. We teach daily phonics throughout KS1, using the “Letters and Sounds” programme and introduce the pupils to a wide range of good quality texts. We also use Ruth Miskin Read, Write Inc. materials to support the teaching of phonics. We model and teach reading every day, in shared (whole class), guided (small group) or individual sessions throughout the school.

Our reading books include a broad range of fiction and non-fiction and we mix texts from different reading schemes (Oxford Reading Tree, Lighthouse Readers, Collins Big Cat, for example), in order that children experience a wide range and genre and develop confidence in tackling new texts.

In Key Stage 2 reading continues to be taught in group sessions using a school library of group reading books, which include a wide range of fiction, classic texts and non-fiction material.

Phonics are taught both in school but is also supported at home. The teaching of phonics is also linked to letter formation and the teaching of handwriting which we regard as an important skill to develop.

Sounds Discovery and Precision Reading support those pupils who require targeted intervention to improve their phonic awareness as they move through the school.

Alpington primary is a reading school, we invest a great deal of resources each year in updating our selection of reading material. We feel strongly that children who develop a love for reading and are fluent readers will develop the critical higher order skills that enables them to form opinions, express their views and be confident when discussing ideas. Pupils are heard to read regularly at school in guided reading groups, as well as individually when appropriate, and have reading homework set. Reading is something we encourage parents to share regularly with their child, we are often asked for “recommended reads” and so have posted a link to the TES list of “100 fiction books all children should read before leaving primary school”